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Topeka JC Penney not among 33 closing

Topeka’s J.C. Penney store isn’t on the chopping block in a round of store closing announced Wednesday, according to officials at West Ridge Mall.

The struggling retailer announced Wednesday it would close 33 stores and cut 2,000 jobs. The move will save about $65 million annually, according to the Associated Press.

Jessica Kinsey, spokeswoman for West Ridge Mall, said J.C. Penney hasn’t contacted the mall about its cuts.

“Our store is doing well,” she said.

Penney, based in Plano, Texas, suffered from plummeting sales after former CEO Ron Johnson launched a turnaround plan that involved ditching discounts and changing merchandise to try to attract younger, more affluent customers. The strategy backfired, and the company brought back Johnson’s predecessor Mike Ullman in April.